World In Union

Rugby.  And Blogging.  Not two words that would typically be synonymous with me.

But, as for the blogging, something happened in 2012 - I wrote a blog on the Olympics, and it was rather well received... I'd even say, it was VERY well received.  More for the quality, I hasten to add, of my narratives, which some readers were surprised to see extending beyond the monosyllabic, and less for the quality of photographs from my (thankfully former) smartphone.

And, then rugby.  Being a football supporter, from the North-east of England, and being someone who was educated at his local comprehensive school, surely I don't match the typical clientele of this fine sport?  Rugby (so says the wholly factual story utterly made-up myth) was invented by William Webb Ellis, when he was playing football at Rugby School, and chose to pick up the ball and run with it.  Whilst the reaction of those around him at the time was "look at Webb Ellis, the pioneer", such a reaction would not have occurred in my school, where it would have been more a case of "look at Webb Ellis, the bleeping bleep"......

Until November 2014, I had never in my life attended a rugby match, at any level.  I then went to an autumn international involving England, and followed it up with a Six Nations game earlier this year - again, involving England.  And, with this mere 160 minutes of experience in the bank, here I am, at the start of my 2015 "project".  I don't know if this particluar "experience" will be good, bad or indifferent... but I'm more than happy to find out.

And so, the Rugby World Cup.  The quadrennial jamboree of the sport, first contested back in the amateur days of 1987 (being an oldie, I remember those days)...  Staged on British soil (at least in some part) in 1991, 1999 & 2007.  Won by England in 2003.  Returning to these shores for the 2015 edition, which kicks off at Twickenham this very evening.

Much the same as with my Olympic adventure, I bought some World Cup tickets quite early in the process, for some of the less glamouous games, and then topped up my collection some months later, thanks to a few flash sales of tickets to the more prestigious games.  It is a 6-week tournament, and I'll keep this blog updated whenever relevant to do so (and, preferably, not by typing most blog entries at 1am, as was the logistical necessity in 2012).

My first game is tomorrow night, and pits together those most passionate of neighbours, Italy and France.  Here is an extract from the pre-match email which I received... for some reason, the phrase "Allez Les Rouges" sounds inherently wrong...

Anyway, I'll leave the last words of this first blog post to Dame Kiri......